As 2024 winds down, Governor Ron DeSantis faces several critical decisions, starting with the appointment of a replacement for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio. Rubio, tapped by President Trump to serve as Secretary of State, leaves behind a vacancy that has insiders speculating about his successor.
Attorney General Ashley Moody is considered the frontrunner for the seat, with former Florida House Speakers Paul Renner (St. Johns) and Jose Oliva (Miami-Dade) also emerging as potential contenders. If Governor DeSantis selects Moody, he will also need to appoint her replacement to serve out the remainder of her term. Current Chief of Staff James Uthmeier is widely regarded as the top candidate for that position.
Adding to the shuffle, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis has announced his resignation to run for Congress in the Panhandle, seeking to replace Rep. Matt Gaetz. This upcoming vacancy means the Governor will also need to fill the CFO position, further expanding his influence over Florida’s executive leadership.
At the state level, political dynamics are shifting dramatically. In the past month, two Florida House Democrats—Susan Valdes (Hillsborough) and Hillary Cassel (Broward)—changed their party registration to Republican. Their switch increases the Republican supermajority in the House to 87 members, the largest in Florida’s history. Both representatives are expected to play key roles in upcoming debates on education and insurance reform.
Meanwhile, the Florida Legislature has finalized its committee leadership and memberships for the 2025 Legislative Session, set to begin in March. These committees will help shape the policies debated in Tallahassee, including several priorities important to the RV industry. The Florida RV Association is actively engaging with legislative leaders to ensure the industry’s voice is heard at every level of government.
We are also closely monitoring developments at the Department of Agriculture, where forthcoming rulemaking on Liquid Propane licensing is being considered. Regulators are expected to seek additional legislative guidance during the next session, and we will maintain an active presence throughout the process.
Your support of the Florida RV Association Political Committee allows us to educate policymakers about the importance of our industry to Florida’s economy and communities. Thank you for your continued commitment to this effort.
As January approaches, Florida legislators will return to Tallahassee to begin committee work ahead of the legislative session. Stay tuned for updates as we advance our priorities in the months ahead.